Rabdophaga saliciperda (Dufour, 1841)

on Salix

Salix alba, Engeland, Dorset © Jenny Seawright: old galls

detail

gall

The larvae live each in an elliptic gall chamber in the sapwood under the bark of a somewhat older branch; the chambers lie more or less parallel to the surface. The bark swells, splits and frays; after the midges have emerged, parts of the sapwood and the gall chambers become exposed. Larvae greenish yellow. Univoltine,de larva hibernates, and pupates in spring just below the epidermis of the branch.

hostplants

Salicaceae, monofaag

Salix alba, aurita & subsp. oleifolia, caprea, x fragilis, nigra, purpurea, repens, triandra, viminalis.

Salix alba is probably the most important hostplant.

larva

described by Kieffer (1892a) en Nijveldt & Yukawa (1982a). The pupa bears, between the two prothoracic horns, a pair of relatively large, brown teeth.

gall on Salix aurita x cinerea, England, Dorset © Jenny Seawright

opened gall

larva

spatula

variability of the spatula (from Rübsaamen, 1916a)

prosternum with spatula (from Möhn, 1955a)

synonyms

Cecidomyia, Dasineura, Helicomyia, Rhabdophaga, saliciperda.

inquilines

As a specialised predator lives in the galls Lestodiplosis gammae.

references

Barnes (1951a), Buhr (1965a), Chinery (2011a), Cilbircioğlu & Ünal (2009a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Gagné (2010a), Hellrigl (2010a), Houard (1908a), Ilie & Marinescu (2011a), Kieffer (1891a, 1892a), Lambinon, Schneider & Feitz (2001b), Mirumian (2011a), Möhn (1955a), Nijveldt & Yukawa (1982a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roskam (2009a), Roskam & Carbonnelle (2015a), Rübsaamen (1916a), Simova-Tošić, Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1996a, 2000a, 2004a, 2007a), Skuhravá, Bayram, Çam ao (2005a), Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1994a, 1997a,b, 1999a, 2010a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dauphin & Coutin (2005a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dončev & Dimitrova (1991a, 1992a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Hellrigl (2001a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Jørgensen (2006a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Neacsu (1972a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Skrzypczyńska & Szadziewski (2008a), Tomasi (2014a), Unal & Akkuzu (2009a).